Fuel cell vs battery: Cold weather effects on bus range
S. Himmelstein | January 06, 2020Transit agencies located in cold weather climates planning to replace traditional diesel-fueled buses with zero-emission vehicles need to consider the effects of extreme weather on new bus fleet performance. To assess the effects of temperature on vehicle range, researchers analyzed data from four transit agencies that deployed 
Range versus temperature for selected transit agencies. Source: M. Henning et al.hydrogen fuel cells and four that deployed battery-electric buses.
Fuel economy, temperature and other operating data were collected from transit operators in Ohio, California, Minnesota, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Norway and British Columbia, Canada. The loss in range during a temperature change from 50° F to 60° F to 22° F to 32° F was shown to be greater for battery-electric buses at 37.8% than for fuel cell electric buses at 23.1%. Under this temperature decline range, battery electric buses lost around 32.1% efficiency, while fuel cell electric buses dropped 28.6%.
As battery-electric buses typically have a smaller range than fuel cell electric buses even under optimal conditions, agencies may have to acquire additional buses or infrastructure to maintain full service during cold weather conditions. Additional research will be needed to identify causes for loss in efficiency, as this study sought only to note the association between efficiency or range and the change in temperature.
They might find a diesel driven bus is more reliable once more at some stage, later when the headache gets too big with either solution.
Well well. Nough said!
In reply to #1
fully agree
"...was shown to be greater for battery-electric buses at 37.8% than for fuel cell electric buses". Are you sure you're familiar with science? Where's the data for the fuel-cell electric buses? I refuse to compare apples & oranges, unless it's a question of which I personally prefer (but I'd have to try both personally myself, first). One thing I learned well in the Navy's Nuclear Power Program, is how to handle classified info. It's not good enough to have the "clearance". "Need To Know" is also required. And you obviously have no clue about what's "need to know".